GUNNS MISLEADS PUBLIC OVER PLANS TO SPRAY N-E PLANTATION

Contradicting Their Own Notification Letter

www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today accused Gunns Limited of misleading the public over plans to aerially spray the insecticide Dominex Duo on the Timothy plantation at East Diddleum in north east Tasmania, and called on Gunns to notify the nearby residents in writing if it does in fact not intend to proceed with planned spraying operations.

Greens Forests spokesperson Kim Booth MP said after he raised the issue of Gunns spraying the Timothy plantation yesterday, Gunns responded by stating that “there is no immediate plan to spray the area,” which completely contradicts the letter sent to nearby residents just 17 days earlier which states that Gunns “will be carrying out control operations on properties in your area over the coming weeks”. [1,2]

Mr Booth also said that the insecticide Dominex Duo, with Bond as the sticking agent, are clearly marked with warnings not to use them near waterways or crustaceans, yet the Timothy plantation is criss-crossed with drainage lines and streams that are known to contain the threatened Freshwater Crayfish and which also feed into Launceston’s drinking water supply.

“Gunns Limited now say that there are no immediate plans to spray the Timothy plantation, but just 17 days ago they told nearby residents that they would be spraying the plantation in ‘coming weeks’,” said Mr Booth.

“It appears that Gunns are even prepared to contradict themselves in their desperate efforts to deflect attention away from their practice of spraying toxic chemicals into waterways that feed drinking water supplies.”

“This latest deception is just another example of Gunns’ terrible corporate culture, and if they want the neighbouring residents to the Timothy plantation to actually believe that there is no intention to spray then they will now need to put that in writing.”

“Dominex Duo and Bond are known to contaminate waterways and poison crustaceans and they must not be applied where they may end up in a waterway or drinking water supply, yet the Timothy plantation is riddled with streams and waterways that feed into the St Patricks River which supplies drinking water for Launceston.”

“These are toxic nerve poisons and dangerous to human health, and it is grossly irresponsible of Gunns to use them anywhere near residential properties or waterways.”

“Gunns have been caught out blatantly misleading the people of Tasmania regarding their intentions to spray Dominex Duo and Bond onto the Timothy plantation, and they need to cancel this planned operation, and apologise for misleading Tasmanians as well as questioning the honesty of the Timothy plantation neighbours,” said Mr Booth.

References:

[1] “Location: TAYENE. Coupe Name: Timothy. Due to high populations of insects in some of our plantations, we will be carrying out control operations on some properties in your area over the coming weeks.”

[Attached letter from Gunns Limited notifying Timothy plantation neighbours of intention to spray insecticide within weeks, dated 30 November 2009.]

[2] “A Gunns spokesman says there is no immediate plan to spray the area and Gunns fully meets the government’s tough regulations on aerial spraying.”

[“Aerial spraying halt urged,” ABC Online News, 16 December 2009, http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/16/2773080.htm ]
Dec16_Gunns Notification to Timothy Neighbours_ATTACH_K Booth.pdf

Kim Booth MP Greens Forests spokesperson